What’s the actual safest way to clean down there during your period (like, do you use just water, mild soap, wipes), and what should you avoid so you don’t throw off your pH?

A: The safest way to clean during your period is simple: wash the vulva (outside) with lukewarm water and, if you want, a small amount of gentle, unscented soap. Do not wash inside the vagina at all. No douching, no squeezing soap up there, no "feminine washes" that claim to make you smell like flowers. Your vagina is self-cleaning and lives at an acidic pH that keeps good bacteria thriving and troublemakers in check. Blood is more alkaline, so your pH will shift a bit during your period, but it will rebalance on its own. Over-washing, scented products, and harsh wipes are way more likely to cause infections or irritation than fix anything. Daily showers, front-to-back rinsing, and changing period products on time are the real hygiene heroes.Want to walk through what is normal for your period smell, discharge, or pH drama? Chat with Gush and say the things you are tired of whispering.

How to safely clean your vagina during your period without messing up your pH

First: vagina vs vulva (because sex ed failed a lot of us)

Your vagina is the internal canal. Your vulva is everything on the outside: labia, clitoris, urethra opening, vaginal opening, that whole neighborhood.Only the vulva needs washing.The vagina is lined with a mucous membrane, has its own bacteria (mainly Lactobacillus), and usually sits at an acidic pH around 3.8–4.5. That acidity is protective. When you start throwing soap, fragrance, or random "down there" products inside, you:- Strip away natural moisture- Kill off good bacteria- Make it easier for yeast and bad bacteria to overgrowSo if a product says "for internal freshness" or "vaginal cleansing", that is your cue to back away.

What to actually use to clean during your period

Here is the basic, low-drama routine that gynecologists recommend:- Use lukewarm water on the vulva once a day.- If you want soap, choose a plain, unscented, gentle cleanser (sensitive skin formula).- Use your hand, not a loofah or scrubber.- Rinse front to back so you are not dragging bacteria from your butt toward your vagina.Things to avoid on your vulva:- Scented soaps, body washes, and bubble baths- "Feminine washes" with fragrance, dyes, or essential oils- Antibacterial soaps (too harsh)- Anything labeled "pH balanced" that still has a long perfume/chemical listIf reading an ingredient list gives you a headache, that is not a great sign for your vulva.

Wipes, sprays, and other "freshness" traps

Wipes are not evil, but they are not daily skin care either.Use them like this:- Only when you cannot shower (travel, festivals, emergency clean-up)- Choose unscented, alcohol-free, hypoallergenic- Gently pat, do not scrub- Do not use them inside the vaginaAvoid completely:- Scented vaginal sprays or deodorant mists- "Odor neutralizing" powders or gelsIf you feel like you need to constantly mask odor, that is often a sign of BV (bacterial vaginosis) or another infection. Products will cover it for a minute and then make the actual problem worse.

What your hormones and cycle are doing to your pH

Your menstrual cycle is not just about bleeding; your hormones are constantly shifting the vibe in your vagina:- Follicular phase (after your period): Estrogen starts rising. Cervical mucus gets more moist and creamy. The vagina stays nicely acidic; many people feel their freshest here.- Ovulation: Estrogen peaks. Discharge gets clear and stretchy (egg-white). Still acidic, still protective. You might feel wetter but not dirty.- Luteal phase (PMS time): Progesterone rises. Some people get drier, others get thicker discharge. pH can fluctuate a bit.- Menstrual phase (your period): Blood is alkaline. When it sits in the vagina and mixes with normal fluids, the pH becomes less acidic. That is part of why smell changes slightly and why BV and yeast can show up around or after your period.So when your period is in town, your vaginal environment is literally different. That does not mean you are dirty. It means your hormones and blood are doing chemistry.If your brain is spiraling because your experience does not look exactly like this list, you are not broken, you are human. Your cycle, your meds, your stress, your sex life – all of it shifts things. If you want someone to help connect those dots, Gush is there to unpack your specific pattern with you.

How often to wash, and what is "too much"

- Once-a-day shower or vulva wash is plenty for most people.- Extra rinse after a workout or sweaty day is fine.- Washing multiple times a day with soap, or scrubbing because you are anxious about smell, is where irritation kicks in.Signs you are overdoing it:- Burning or stinging when you wash- Redness or peeling skin on the labia- Increased itching after showeringOften, the fix is to strip your routine down: just water or the gentlest soap you can find, once a day, and then give your skin a break.

Period products and hygiene: what actually matters

Your hygiene around pads, tampons, cups, discs, and period underwear matters more than how aggressively you wash.Good habits:- Change pads every 4–6 hours (more often if very heavy)- Do not wear one pad all day "because it still looks clean" – bacteria still grow- Change tampons every 4–8 hours (never longer than 8)- Empty cups/discs at least every 8–12 hours, and more often on heavy days- Rinse your vulva with water when you can if dried blood is irritating, but you do not need to scrub- Wear breathable cotton underwear when possibleIf you use period underwear:- Rinse in cold water after wearing- Wash on cold or warm with mild detergent- Skip fabric softener (it messes with absorbency and can irritate skin)- Let them fully dry before re-wearing

Irregular cycles, birth control, and spotting

If your cycle is unpredictable, or you are on hormonal birth control, your bleeding and discharge patterns can be different:- On the pill, patch, or ring: Periods are often lighter or shorter; some people get breakthrough spotting. Hygiene rules are the same. Light blood plus discharge can look brown or rusty; that is usually fine.- With an IUD: Copper IUDs can mean heavier, crampier periods at first; hormonal IUDs often mean lighter or no periods over time. Both can cause random spotting. Again: change products regularly, gentle washing, no internal cleaning.- Irregular cycles (PCOS, stress, weight changes, etc.): You might bleed heavily one month and barely the next. Hygiene is still about time, not just volume. Even on light days, do not stretch one tampon, pad, or liner all day.

When period smell is normal vs when something is off

Normal period smell:- Metallic (like coins) from iron in blood- Slightly earthy or musky- A bit stronger at the end of the day when blood has been sittingRed flags:- Strong fishy odor (BV is likely)- Rotten or dead-animal smell (could be a forgotten tampon)- Thick, white, cottage-cheese-like discharge plus itching (yeast)- Greenish or yellowish discharge plus pain or burning (possible STI or infection)You do not fix any of those with soaps, sprays, or douches. You fix them by getting seen and treated.

When to see a provider about period hygiene issues

Get checked out if:- Itching, burning, or pain lasts more than a couple of days- You see blisters, open sores, or new bumps- Smell is very strong and new, especially if fishy or rotten- Peeing burns and your vulva looks red and inflamed- Sex suddenly becomes painfulYou deserve a provider who listens when you say something is off. If they dismiss you with "just use a feminine wash," that is your sign to find someone else.